brakes

[slash]

how can one change the sensitivity from the brake pedal. i want it to be stiffer like barley push the brake to slow down

[v8_dave]

You may have air in your lines and need to be bleed. My '99 Vic (same brakes) has incredible brakes, you have to be careful or else you can put yourself through the windshield.

[warnerwh]

I just changed all my brakes. My pedal went down farther than it should have and after I was done I expected the brake pedal to start working just a bit more than barely pushing it. Even after fresh brakes there's still significant play, albeit less than before.

If your brakes feel spongy at all it is necessary to bleed them. When I bleed I flush the entire line. There's a way to do this properly usually being starting with the wheel furthest from the master cyliner. With ABS these days I"m not positive that's still true. Hopefully someone else can answer. Either way brake fluid is cheap and brakes are pretty important.

[mercman1951]

[QUOTE=warnerwh;605982
If your brakes feel spongy at all it is necessary to bleed them. When I bleed I flush the entire line. There's a way to do this properly usually being starting with the wheel furthest from the master cyliner. With ABS these days I"m not positive that's still true. Hopefully someone else can answer. Either way brake fluid is cheap and brakes are pretty important.[/QUOTE]

I bled the begezus out of the brake system using a vaccum pump on my '79 Cougar. I also had a "helper" pumping the brakes. I did the rear right first, and worked my way around the thing. If your fluid is 10 years old or older, it needs to be COMPLETELY replaced. Mine still aren't right.

Here's what I have learned:

Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time by nature (condensation.) Water does not compress at the same rate as hydraulic brake fluid. Two fluids NOT mixing well in the same lines under extreme compression do not make a good pedal feel.

Take your car to a shop and have them "power flush" or "power bleed" your brakes. They should evacuate out all the old fluid and replace it with all new fluid. The pedal should return to the way it felt from the factory.

[AZLincolnMercury]

I bled the begezus out of the brake system using a vaccum pump on my '79 Cougar.

check out:
http://theclassiccougarnetwork.com/tccn2/tech/maintenance/maint03/maint03.html